CORRECTIONS ISSUES AND PRACTICES
Women
Prisoners (internationally) Different Source
COED PRISONS:
In US:
- Housed in same prison but do not share same quarters.
- Sexual contact not permitted.
- Recommended ratio of males/females 50-50
Last known: Pleasanton CA 1997
Positive results:
- Staff enthusiasm increased
- Parolees found employment more easily
- Reduction in violent discipline charges (40%)
- Reduction in general discipline charges (73%)
- Reduction in grievances filed by inmates (42%)
Negatives:
- Increase in sexual frustrations-cannot touch
- Jealousy of husbands/wives
- Sexual frustrations impact on stress/rehabilitation
SMOKE FREE PRISONS
- Smoking today is less socially acceptable
- Most Correctional Admin. sceptical about effect of policy
- Lawsuits by inmates over second hand smoke
- Courts-no constitutional right to smoke while incarcerated
- Increase in institutions banning smoking
Protocol for plan of implementation:
- request legal opinion concerning constitutionality
- discussing plan with EMPLOYEES
- Announcing decision well in advance-adjust
via various programs
IMPACT: positive on environment,
fire hazards, health
SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION:
Homosexuality-universal concomitant of sex segregated living
Most frequent form of sexual release-solitary masturbation
30-45% of inmates experience homosexual behavior
Rape result of hate and need to dominate, not sexual need.
Disagreement over extent of homosexual rapes in prison
Fear is greatest among young white prisoners
Most aggressors are black (80%)
Difficulty in preventing/reducing homosexual rapes in prison
Suggestions:
- HR training, increasing interpersonal skills
- relieving tension
- developing group problem solving skills to address problem
INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE
- Extent unknown
- comparison with community cannot be made
- Young inmates disproportionaly involved
- Higher rates of violence after reform
CDCR Annual Report
Inmate Incidents 2006
California Chief's Report on Impact of parole/probation population in four cities (Redlands, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles)
World Incarceration Rates
Assaults on Correctional Officers:
Four Factors involved:
- location
- shift
- work experience
- age of assaulter (under 25)
3% of federal COs and 32 of state COs assaulted while
attempting to stop fights
PRIVATE PRISONS AND
PRISONER/STAFF SAFETY
CORRECTIONAL ACCREDITATION
Private Prisons Found to Offer Little in Savings
Important Concepts, Key Terms, and Information
- Inmates from Co-Ed prison transition to outside life better after
release
- Co-Ed prisons experienced lower incidents of inmate violence and
inmate grievances
- Prohibition against smoking in correctional institutions is constitutional
- The number of sexual assaults in prisons is difficult, if not impossible,
to ascertain
- Assaults on correctional officers while attempting to stop inmate
fights are highest in state prisons
- Differences in assaults between state and federal prisons are probably
the result of a greater number of violent inmates in state prisons
- Private prisons may not be as useful as thought
- The publicized lower cost per inmate for using private prisons
fails to consider all relevant factors
- The cost difference between private and public prisons is typically
abut 10-15%